Box Score MARSHALL, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston lost an offensive back-and-forth contest 56-31 Saturday night to Southwest Minnesota State University at Schwan Regional Events Center in Marshall, Minn. The Mustangs solidified their victory out-scoring UMC 24-8 in the fourth quarter after being up just 32-23 through the first three quarters. UMC falls to 0-2 on the season with the loss, while SMSU improves to 1-1 with Saturday's victory.
Ben Bucholz (Jr., QB, Perham, Minn./Ag Business) finished the night going 25-of-42 for 253 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions. His top target was
Jordan Hester (Fr., WR, Arlington, Texas/Marketing) with seven catches for 69 yards and two touchdowns.
Adam Connette (Fr., WR, Corona, Calif./Elementary Education) had another strong game with four catches for 73 yards and a touchdown. He also had a touchdown pass to
Dante Jones (Jr., WR, Landover, Md./Sports and Rec Management).
Jacob Pinder (Jr., TE, Orlando, Fla./Management) added six catches for 48 yards.
On defense, UMC was led by a stellar night from
Drew Selvestra (Jr., DL, Eagan, Minn./Criminal Justice) led the way with 10 tackles, two tackles for loss and two sacks.
Robert Gausi (Jr., DB, Brooklyn Park, Minn./Criminal Justice) added nine tackles and an interception, as did
Greg Lofquist (Sr., LB, South St. Paul, Minn./Criminal Justice).
Trent Galkoski (So., DB, La Mesa, Calif./Criminal Justice) also had nine tackles.
UMC came out of the gate with a quick 14-0 lead in the first quarter on the Mustangs as Bucholz hooked up with Connette for a 12-yard touchdown pass and then found Hester for a 14-yard strike.
SMSU countered as quarterback Charlie Kern ran one in from two yards out.
The Golden Eagles would take a 20-7 lead early in the second quarter as Hester wrangled in a 41-yard touchdown pass from Bucholz.
The Mustangs would string together three scores late in the second quarter as Tyler Tonderum had a touchdown run, Kern had his second touchdown run and Mike Wenk hit a 22-yard field goal to take a 23-20 late in the quarter to take a 23-20 lead at the half.
UMC kicker
Michael Maw (So., White Bear Lake, Minn./Accounting) hit a 19-yard field goal to knot things up early in the third quarter 23-23.
SMSU quarterback Kern would hit Kevin Parks for a 40-yard strike and then Wenk hit a 42-yard field goal to give SMSU a 32-23 at the end of the third quarter.
The Mustangs would add to their lead early in the fourth quarter as Kern hit Adam Olson for a 14-yard touchdown to make it 39-23.
The Golden Eagles would cut the advantage to 39-31 as they used a gadget play having receiver Connette throw to fellow receiver Jones for a 31-yard touchdown pass. A
Caleb Seger (Jr., WR, Lakeville, Minn./Agriculture) two-point conversion would add to the score.
However, SMSU would pour it on at the end of the game beginning with a Casey Hertz 40-yard interception return, followed by a Wenk 22-yard field goal and a Kern one-yard touchdown run.
The Golden Eagles will return home to face Winona State University at 1 p.m. Sat., Sept. 20 at Ed Widseth Field.
For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics website at www.goldeneaglesports.com.
Follow the Golden Eagles on Facebook at Golden Eagle Sports and on Twitter at @UMCAthletics.
The University of Minnesota Crookston is an NCAA Division II Institution and a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). The Golden Eagle Equestrian team is a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA).
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